Saudi Arabia urges shared global responsibility to safeguard maritime routes

Saudi Arabia claimed it successfully intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca, Islam's most revered city, on Tuesday, sparking swift condemnation from regional allies. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition forces, stated that this marks the first time in nearly a decade that the Houthi rebels have targeted Mecca, with the previous attack occurring in 2017.

In response, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, denied the allegations, asserting that their targets were Saudi oil facilities and military bases, which they claimed were far from holy sites. The ongoing conflict in Yemen and the Houthi's aggressive advances have put Saudi Arabia in a precarious position, potentially drawing it into a broader conflict while the US and Iran continue their war.

Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, is a destination for millions of Muslims who undertake a pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Al-Maliki vowed to take "necessary and deterrent measures" against the militant group, emphasizing that the attack was a deliberate provocation intended to incite outrage among millions of Muslims.

International bodies, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned the attempted attack, emphasizing that it violated the sanctity of holy sites and mosques and instilled fear in innocent civilians. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the act "dastardly and heinous" and affirmed his country's support for Saudi Arabia.

The attack comes amid escalating violence in the region, with Houthi rebels launching ballistic missiles and drones at several Saudi cities, injuring 13 civilians. On Sunday, the rebels claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi military base. In retaliation, Saudi forces carried out airstrikes across Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday and Tuesday.

The Houthi forces have intensified their fighting against Yemen's Saudi-backed government, expanding their control over key territories, including a Red Sea port city and an island near a crucial waterway that serves as a backup to the Strait of Hormuz. This control over shipping routes has raised concerns about the potential disruption of oil exports, leading to a surge in oil prices above $100 per barrel following US strikes on Iranian oil tankers and the ongoing Yemeni conflict.